What stands out worked out from the figures below

Carmel has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

Exeter has the most people working from home (10.3%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Carmel	Exeter
People
Population	2,941Highest	1,093Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.4±4.5Lowest 4% above ME	52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME
	Exeter and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1%	9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	16.5%±5Lowest ME: 22.4%	23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4%
	Exeter and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17.2%Highest ME: 36.2%	15%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Exeter and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,188±$22kLowest 10% above ME	$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME
	Exeter and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,800±$37kHighest 13% below ME	$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,276±$187Highest 12% above ME	$995±$386Lowest 13% below ME
	Carmel and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,662Highest 12% below ME	$1,602Lowest 47% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Carmel and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.6%Highest ME: 10.7%	8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	93.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME	1991Lowest 14 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	35 minHighest 43% above ME
Work from home	6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Exeter and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#77 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 87/MSAD 23	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.